Friday, January 20, 2012

Tapioca Chips


I wasn't quite sure about posting this while I was frying these chips. There is nothing much to be explained about this dish. Then I thought about the people who may not be familiar or comftorble with frying the chips and decided to post it here to teach all ! So the experts out there, please bear with me !

Tapioca Chips




I 'm sure all the Malayalees or most of those from South India are quite familiar with Tapioca (aka kappa,maracheeni,kolli or cheenikkizhangu) chips. This is the second most favorite type of chips in my family,without any doubt the top most favorite is banana chips. All the bakeries in Kerala has packets of these chips for sale, and the interesting part is,they come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes a thinner version of shoe laces, sometimes round and circular like this,sometimes with little bit chili added,but they all taste scrumptious !!!.I can finish one whole packet in one go (I am not kidding,I really can!) Yes, I warn you that these chips are dangerously addictive. You will totally agree with me, if you have had them before.

Tapioca Chips

I have told you in this earlier post that tapioca is a staple in most of the houses in Kerala. There are so many dishes you can prepare using tapioca. I have posted about kappa puzhukku and kappa biryani earlier. But I have never told you about how we use all the parts of tapioca quite efficiently,almost leaving no part behind. After the harvest,the stem will be saved for planting in next season,the leaves will be fed to the cows, after they loose the freshness.They do this to avoid the cattle getting sick from the milk that oozes out from the leaves.The tapioca is preserved after making small chunks and boiling them till completely cooked and drying out completely in sun.This is called unakku kappa (dried tapioca). This is used when the tapioca is not in season,but nowadays,raw tapioca is imported to Kerala from the neighboring states, so it's available year round-leaving this teqniuque almost deserted.Once I get some unakku kappa, I'll explain how to make some great dishes using that,for I have many recipies for it.

Tapioca Chips

Where do you buy your tapioca in US ? I mostly get them from the Chinese/Asian grocery store.Sometimes they turn to be bad, but most of the time, very good because of one secret I will tell you- sometimes we pinch the skin to see whether the inside is black, from the fungus! Shhhh,it's a secret !! :-D

Tapioca Chips

Ingredients:

Tapioca, skinned - 2-3 large pieces
Salt
Oil- for deep frying

Method:

1.Peel out the skin from tapioca and wash well. Dry it using a kitchen tissue paper.This helps to hold it properly, without slipping, while you use a mandolin.
2.Using a mandolin cut the tapioca into thin slices.
3.Meanwhile heat the oil on medium high.Make a really strong solution of salt in couple of spoons of water and keep aside.Also keep a lid in handy.
4.Carefully ,put the tapioca pieces in the oil.Do not stir for the first 45 seconds to 1 minutes.This is to let the tapioca get cooked and not to break them while stirring.
5.After that start stirring the chips, till they start to turn light golden brown.
6.Sprinkle a few drops of salt solution into the oil using one hand ,while closing the pan with the lid using the other hand immediately. This helps you to prevent any oil splattering on the stove and surroundings.Be really careful with this step. If you think that it is really scary, you can sprinkle the salt solution right after you take the chips out from the oil.
7.Once the salt is completely dried,take out the chips from the oil using a sieved ladle.
8.Let the chips cool completely before you transfer it into an airtight container.

Notes:

1.Traditionally these chips are made in coconut oil.
2.Be careful when you use the mandolin.Sometimes tapioca can be really big to handle like this. So my suggestion is to get medium sized tapioca when you want to make chips.

35 comments:

  1. I never knew that tapioca is also used in this form :) I would like to definately taste this chips :)

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  2. I love kappa chips!!! My mom used to make loads of these, and I love the crunch on these chips when compared to potato chips!! Finger chips are also very tasty :)

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  3. one of our favourite to snack looks wonderful

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  4. Didn't know about these chips either.
    Reading the title I thought these were tapioca:sago:sabudana chips until I saw the vegetable.
    It's good you don't keep only experts in mind when posting something, no matter how simple or popular something is - most of us don't know about so many possibilities in food!
    Thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Very delicious and crispy looking potato chips dear.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  6. I love this any time of the week..You are making me to have it now..

    Aarthi
    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/

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  7. I loved the first click that I can't take my eyes from that.
    What you wrote id correct,dangerously addictive !

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  8. looks so good...
    would love to have some !!!

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  9. How tempting!!I love kappa upperi, and your right its soo addictive! I think the kappa we get here is actually better than the ones in Mumbai atleast, they cook so fast!

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  10. Mouthwatering here, wat a terrific and super tempting chips..

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  11. looks amazing..will def be a must try for me..excellent cliks Namitha..:)
    Tasty Appetite

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  12. I love tapioca chips, it has a hard texture, like bit chewy and the chili powder on top makes the lip burn but still you want to eat more. We used to make this often. May be now its the time to make it again. Gorgeous clicks!!!

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  13. Long since I had any of it.. I continue to be amazed at your patience to do this from scratch.. good going Nami!

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  14. I live in SF where there are lots of Asians (Chinese/Indian etc) so I'm pretty sure I can find this tapioca. I never seen raw form... I have seen tapioca in package, but not like this. This looks SOOOO delicious. I'm not scared of deep fry at all (although I try to be on diet at the moment). I think I'll be crazy in love with this snack. I know I will be... I bet it's hard to stop!

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  15. Love it! I am from Brazil and love deep fried mandioca (that is how we call that root. It's the first time I see it served as chips. I must try!

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  16. Ente fav tapioca chips. Just cannot stop eating these. Such a wonderful post Namitha. Brings back so many memories.

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  17. oh my gosh! Kappa chips are my favourite snack ever! Chakka chips too. I wish I was your neighbour!

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  18. My Favourite,and these look so so good,here in the asian store it is available but we dont go there very ofnte and when I go i see mostly dried out kappa which doesn't tempt me to buy them.

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  19. Looks amazing! In Chennai, we get these in the form of thin sticks..
    -
    Kavi (Edible Entertainment)
    Ongoing Event:(Kid's Delight - Something Sweet)

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  20. One of my fav chips..Perfect for snacking.

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  21. These sound really yummy! I have never seen them but would love to try them:)

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  22. photo kanichu kothippichu.. wonderful snapsdear..
    by the way i tried ur buns and it came out really well. this week i will try pav and bajji. i wnt get bread flour hear.can i subtitute it with maida?

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  23. We all are very fond of tapioca chips ina ny form whether spiced up or like sticks, living in Dubai has made us enjoy malyalee delicacies. But I never know it is this easy to make, will have to keep an eye for these on my next supermarket trip. Beautiful photos.

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  24. WOW!!! looks super crispy. First time here. Nice blog. Happy 2 follow u

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  25. hi,love your blog!can v use frozen kappa to make chips?

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  26. @Kangna: I haven't tried yet. But it should be fine to use them after thawing.I have seen the frozen kappa ready to use for puzhukku, so you may not be able to chop them like this :-) If you try,I would love to know how they turn out.good luck !

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  27. How did I miss this? :-)
    You forgot another term we use- poolakizhangu.
    We also make 'kondattams' and dried pappadums with it.
    And it is not a staple in our areas-more further south.

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